Quinteassential is a tea consultancy and fine loose leaf tea boutique with award-winning unique teas and healthy tea blends. We are the long term partner of choice for some of the best global and UK’s hospitality organisations.

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Dec 20 A BATH ON THE INSIDE

A few months ago during Milan Design Week, I had the privilege of collaborating with Studio Appétit, a multidisciplinary experience design studio specializing in Eating Design and culinary oriented projects, and Laufen, a Swiss company renowned for its innovative bathroom concepts, to come up with a trio of blends for Studio Appétit’s Bain Culinaire initiative.

When designer and chef Ido Garini, who helmed Studio Appétit, had an idea of designing a ‘teabag’ for his Bain Culinaire project, he contacted Quinteassential to create three blends that soothe and salve when you soak in a tub. According to Ido, Bain Culinaire is inspired by the dualities between culinary world and the world of wellness. Transforming them into exciting sensorial products with new rituals and familiar flavours.

With the help of Laufen, he also designed a bespoke modern tea caddy and tea accessories using stainless steel and Corian to facilitate the ritual of blending the carefully curated flavours for wellness in the bathroom.

I immediately grasped what Ido was trying to achieve and came up with a concept for the blends, ‘sipping tea is like taking a bath on the inside.’ Here’s a little introduction of the three blends:

Focus – Japanese sencha, lemon verbena and sweet passion flower herb.

Refresh – Smoky Yunnan pu-erh, cedar wood, basil and other herbs.

Breathe – Meditative Chinese oolong with sandalwood and herbs.

Although it was a short project, it was an honor to work with Ido and Laufen.

Bernadine Tay is a tea designer and founder of Quinteassential. She tells stories and relives memories through her tea designs. She is the tea curator and brand ambassador for Wedgwood, and has designed bespoke blends for luxury brands and hotels. She had won 7 Great Taste awards out of her 12 blend designs for her own tea range and is now also a tea judge.

Bernadine Tay is a tea designer and founder of Quinteassential. She tells stories and relives memories through her tea designs. She is the tea curator and brand ambassador for Wedgwood, and has designed bespoke blends for luxury brands and hotels. She had won 7 Great Taste awards out of her 12 blend designs for her own tea range and is now also a tea judge.